Aug 6 1973
From The Space Library
A Chicago Sun-Times editorial commented on space rescue capability as the Skylab 3 astronauts, manning the Orbital Workshop since July 28, conducted their first extravehicular activity: "There is a certain amount of calculated risk involved at this period of space experimentation. In a real emergency Russia might be able to help out with one of its spacecraft. When the shuttle program becomes effective, a reusable winged spaceship could be made ready for launching in two hours." Meantime, "all we can do is trust that the good luck, astronauts' skill and inventiveness of the space program people that have provided magnificent results to date continue during the current series of missions." (C Sun-Times, 8/6/73)
Langley Research Center and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) were using aerial photography to identify Tidewater Virginia vegetation in a project to aid Virginia in using its marshlands. High-resolution photos from helicopters would provide accurate knowledge of vegetation species to enable VIMS to classify plant life in specific marshes. VIMS also was working with Wallops Station to use multispectral aerial photography to identify features of specific vegetation by low-resolution photos. (NASA Release 73-146)
The House attitude toward solar energy as a factor in relieving the energy crisis was discussed in a Washington Post guest column by Rep. James W. Symington (D-Mo.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications, and Rep. Mike McCormack (D-Wash.), Chairman of ,the Subcommittee on Energy, both of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics. Members of the subcommittees had expressed the urgent need for an accelerated program in solar energy research and development and had encouraged NASA and the National Science Foundation to use funds provided to develop "an expanded, mission-oriented program." But they warned against expecting that solar energy would provide any significant relief from the energy crisis during the immediate future: "We cannot emphasize strongly enough that this nation must depend primarily upon the combustion of coal, gas, and oil, and on nuclear fission, for energy for the balance of this century. No amount of enthusiasm for solar energy, and no expansion of solar research and development, should keep us from pursuing and expanding the more immediate and urgent research and development programs in coal gasification and liquification and in research and development associated with nuclear reactors and nuclear breeders." (W Post, 8/6/73, A23)
NASA launched two Nike-Apache sounding rockets from Kiruna, Sweden. The first carried a Goddard Space Flight Center payload to a 123-km (76.4-mi) altitude to study ion composition and density in the ionospheric D- and E-regions at polar latitudes. A second Nike-Apache car-ried a Dudley Observatory and Univ. of Stockholm payload to a 103-km (64.0-mi) altitude to collect background data during the absence of noctilucent clouds for comparison with data obtained by two Nike-Apaches launched from Kiruna Aug. 1 and a Nike-Cajun launched from Kiruna Aug. 2. Both rockets and instrumentation performed satisfactorily and experimental objectives appeared to have been achieved. (NASA Rpts SRL)
The National Science Foundation released Immigrant Scientists and Engineers in the United States (NSF 73-302). A mid-1970 survey of characteristics and attitudes of foreign scientists and engineers who had immigrated to the U.S. between 1964 and 1969 showed most had come seeking a higher standard of living. Nearly 6 of every 10 held a Ph.D. or Master's degree. One of every five had continued graduate training. More than 90% were employed in professional positions, and more than one half were in research and development. Although the majority were under 40 yrs of age, 35% had authored scientific papers in the U.S. and 8% held U.S. patents. (Text)
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